Demystifying Astrology, Part II

By Lisa Verschoor

In my first article, I explained the
importance of using an astrologer for their guidance and understanding
of how we are living our life and dynamically and consciously working
with the energies at hand. It does not necessarily answer the question
of why we live. This is only a spiritual vehicle for the journey. I
hope all of you at one time or another will have your chart and a professional
reading done so that you can witness this valuable tool first-hand.

I would like to tell you a bit about this cosmic dance. To begin with
we refer to the first seven planets as the earth planets. The Sun,
Moon, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. These are believed
to be the seven spirits before the throne of God mentioned in Revelation
in the bible. We have seen these energies play a significant part
on all life force on earth. Through our evolution, more dramatic energies
have entered the picture with the planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.

The Sun is said to be the Greater light and is associated
with the sign Leo the Lion. In a chart it also represents the father.
This planet is the main expression of who we are as individualsour
soular self! It is the blueprint and the basic core of
our being. Where the sun is located in a persons chart and which
sign it occupies signifies the vitality and leadership ability of that
individual. When we look at which of the twelve houses, or areas of
life it is located, we are able to determine where the person has the
capability of contributing the most in this lifetime. The Sun signifies
will, power, drive for importance, the fuel the personality operates
on and strength. It rules the heart in the physical body and the fifth
house, which is our creative endeavors and children.

The Moon is
known as the lesser light. It must shine by the reflected
light of the Sun. The combined electrical and magnetic force of these
two lights produces a constant ebb and flow on earth. Our emotional
tides are influenced by the moon. The Moon is associated
with Cancer the Crab and the 4th house of the chart. It also represents
our mother and our path into this life since we all came through our
mothers. These are our collective emotions and where we hold the past
and memories. Instinct and conditioning set the course. Where the
Moon is located in our charts determines where our emotions have full
sway. It is where we possess a strong need for nurturing, home and
family. She represents our personality, feelings, intuition, femininity,
memory and receptivity. She oversees our stomach and breasts in the
physical body. The moon in a chart tells the key to intimacy with
life. It shows the spiritual lineage of the person and the epic journey
we have taken to get here. We look at the aspects that come into the
Moon in a chart so that we can tell not only the flavor, but also the
uniqueness the individual has brought forth. The Moon says, trust
your feelings Moods are messengers that bring information. Thinking
and feeling the mood does no good unless it is given a voice. It needs
to be physical and not abstract. If we do not express moods, they
become toxic. We become dis-eased. It shows the relationship we have
with our mother and unresolved issues through birth transmission.
On a grander scale, the Moon in our chart tells how we can honor that
part of ourselves which is connected to the flow of the oceans and
the flow of the cosmos. The Moons location shows where we are
learning to respond to pressure, and our capacity to feel and respond
appropriately.

Mercury The Winged Messenger is the
planet of intellect. By sign, it is associated with Gemini the Twins
and Virgo the Virgin. This planet represents our mind and how it operates
and is esoterically referred to as the link between heaven and
earth. We also recognize the mind as the link between the soul
and personality. Mercury has rulership over our nervous system and
all communication within us and without. In Gemini it is restlessly
searching for knowledge and the union of opposing forces and in Virgo
it learns to foster healthy communication with this knowledge so that
it may be used for healing. This is neither feminine nor masculine
in nature but neutral. Wherever Mercury is placed in a chart it signifies
intellect, logic and reasoning, perception, brothers and sisters, short
journeys, and publishing. This sign rules the third and the sixth house
of our charts.

Venus is our magnetic attracting power, the Goddess
of Love. It is feminine and receptive and rules over the throat, neck
and ears. It is associated with both Taurus the Bull and Libra the
Scales of Justice. Venus rules over the 2nd house, which signifies
the law of attraction and what it is we desire, and the 7th, which
represents what we attract in our partnerships and marriage. It also
represents personal affection, divine compassion, money, gifts, art,
song, luxury and what our priorities are in relationship to material
and immaterial objects.

Mars is the indicator of energy and expression.
It is associate with Aries the Ram, rules the head, the face and the
1st in the birthchart. Mars has to do with our courage, willfulness,
aggression, strife, sports, selfishness and passion. It is blissfully
unaware of limitations. Therefore, its power to create is magnificent
since it is not bound by limiting thoughts. There is always the choice
whether this power is to be used selfishly or heroically. This is the
area of our life that shows how we take initiative and go into battle.
Mars is fire. The house and sign placement in our charts determines
the dynamic energy that can either bring us tension or strife.

Saturn is known as Father Time and the planet of structure.
It rules Capricorn the Goat and is associated with the 10th house in
a chart. It demands the acceptance of the material world as a temporary
proving ground for the spirit. It also signifies limitations and our
weaknesses. In the birthchart it shows our discipline, organization,
ambition, old age and self-preservation. In our physical bodies, it
rules the knees, our bones, skin and teeth. Saturn in our chart collects
and retains the impressions of our experiences. It gathers the fruit
of these experiences and builds accordingly. To the ancients, this
planet was known as the Tester because it tried a persons
endurance until they grew strong enough to withstand all the demands
of the personality. It also shares the title with Pluto of the Lord
of Karma. Depending on which sign and house it is located, there it
is indicative of where we have use of discipline and where we will
to take responsibility and make the most effort. This is where we redeem
ourselves through tests and trials.

Jupiter is ruler of Sagittarius
the Archer. The largest planet thus far which represents the big
picture and the principal of expansion, and aspiration in our
charts. It is where we prosper and gain abundance. Jupiter rules the
hips and thighs in the body. It is also affiliated with legal matters,
religion, long distance travel, philosophy, faith and optimism. In
a chart it is the ruler of the 9th house. Sagittarius is the bringer
of truth and wants to spread the word. Jupiters lesson is restraint
in knowing when to speak and when to be silent. Knowledge shared with
one who is not ready can do more harm than good. Known as the teacher
and visionary, Jupiters location in your chart is where the arrows
point to the acquired light and wisdom gained on the journey.

Uranus
is the symbol of the highest energy of all. It symbolizes the Sun
behind the Sun and represents intuition that comes like lightening
into our consciousness. It rules Aquarius and its symbol is the Water
Barer. As ruler of the 11th house of friends we find wild and crazy
happenings, and deliberated tradition-busting. The location in the
birthchart signifies where we exert freedom, independence, originality
and genius. It is rebelliousness and cosmic consciousness. It also
has rulership over the ankles and calves in the body, computers and
weather. This is the area of life where we are the most original and
unique and where we will jump on the bandwagon and help our fellow
human beings. Uranus is the transformer of humanity and with a vision
of a peaceful and beautiful world obtained through rebelliously fighting
for social causes.

Neptune is the ruler of Pisces the Fish and
is associated with the 12th house. The feeling qualities of Neptune
are heightened and mediumistic in nature. Its purpose is to reveal
the divine potential that we all strive to reach. It is has rulership
over the feet and is ultra sensitive in nature. This is a feminine
vibration that sees the best in a person or situation, sometimes unrealistically.
Because Neptune is indiscriminately empathic, it can cause much suffering
to the self and contributes at times to escapist tendencies. Divine
compassion is Pisces gift but can be a double-edged sword. Wherever
Neptune is located is where one must serve the universal whole. It
is psychic, dreamy and deceptive at times. Alcohol, drugs and anesthesia
are all part of Neptunes influence.

Pluto is the ruler of
Scorpio the Scorpion. It is affili-ated with the 8th house and is
the symbol of power and control. It is the area of our lives that we
are good at spotting clues, going to great depths, and our perception
is heightened. Pluto is all about sex, death, taxes, jealousy, underlying
agendas, and control. Power can either implode or explode. The one
primary focus and choice of our Pluto energy is to decide how we will
use this power to transform ourselves and situations for a higher good.
Pluto is affiliated with the sexual organs and thus sex in our charts.
It is the area where our lower natures must be conquered and purified
before the light of the soul is transmitted out to our personality
and used for progress.

In part three I will discuss the different
houses and how the planets and signs take on particular characteristics
in each. Until then, Namaste.

Lisa Verschoor is an astrologer
in North Bennington , VT who does phone, taped and personal consultations.
She draws from 15 years experience in this lifetime, and has an extensive,
nation-wide client base. She is an active member of the American Federation
of Astrologers, and has written astrology forecasts for the television
show Pandora and Lifetime Television. She offers a variety
of astrological charts: birth, progressed, solar returns, relocation,
transiting, composite and synastry.